Saturday, December 5, 2009

Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 29

Things are a little more back in order lately--records are unpacked and the internet has been hooked back up. Not having moved in over three years, while collecting more voraciously than ever, made this recent move the most strenuous I've ever had to deal with. A good purging is long overdue. Anyways, the show is back to normal, and the next few will be dedicated to my favorite releases of 2009. Might even try and squeeze in a best of the decade for those out there interested in such lists. And don't get me started on how this isn't actually the end of the decade. Naysayers, listen up--2000-2009 is a decade. A decade is ten fucking years. 2010 is not included in '00s. You know why? Because 2010 is part of the '10s. Everyone out there who's saying otherwise can just celebrate/compile lists next year...like a damned fool.

Now that that's off my chest, on with this week's episode.

Regular readers/listeners will probably have guessed that the Fresh & Onlys will probably take the top spot as my favorite band of '09. Despite that In The Red LP being delayed until next year, the band still had two killer LPs, a couple cassettes, and an endless onslaught of solid seven inches (not to mention that Tim Cohen solo LP) all of which have cemented them as the most consistent, hard working and exciting new band of 2009. The new split seven incher with the mighty Dan Melchior just added another notch. Two songs crammed on to one side, though one is a demo of Black Coffin from 'Grey Eyed Girls', of lower fidelity than normal, and they still come off better than half their contemporaries. Are you still sleeping on this band?

Permanent Records has been a monster this year, with full length releases by Anals, Mako Sica, a Drunks With Guns cassette re-issue (!), Purling Hiss LP, now they've dropped a new-ish Cheveau long player, which is comprised of discarded tracks from their recording sessions over the last few years. Damn glad these didn't end up in a dumpster behind their recording studio. Those who have been paying attention to these fellers can expect the same skittery drum machines, sharp bass stabs, and those possessed vocals. Limited press on this one, so you'd be wise to hit up the Permanent shop soon (they do mailorder now!).

The vinyl releases from our own fair city keep rolling in, making 2009 one of the most vinyl-friendly years in recent memory for Vancouver. Three LPs released this week on the newly launched Nite Prison label by N. 213 & Reflektionss, Modern Creatures/Twin Crystals and a Pompoir one-sided LP should help break the bank of the local DIY faithfuls. I know there isn't anything I'd rather spend my money on. You can grip all three of them at the release party at Honey Lounge December 3rd.

The N. 213 (Nic Hughes of Shearing Pinx/Pompoir)/Reflektionss (Jesse Taylor of Twin Crystals) split takes off where their INW cassette from last year left off. Nic spends his side bouncing around his bedroom with a drum machine and a microphone, while Jesse gets dark and broody with a Moog. The two sides compliment each other well.

The Pompoir one-sider is a nice reflection of the band's stop/start live set. Fans of Shearing Pinx, particularly the more Sonic Youth side of the band, should ease into this one nicely. There's also an undeniable L7 and Huggy Bear vibe. I dunno about you but I'm excited to hear the early '90s finally seep into contemporary music.

Not Not Fun has also had another banner year with full length LPs by Little Claw, Wet Hair (2 of them!), Ducktails, and Sun Araw, and not to mention several amazing cassettes. The end of '09 has been especially busy with new releases by Inca Ore, Eternal Tapestry, Robedoor, Topaz Rags, and Sex Worker, making this label difficult to keep up with, though its been more than worth shelling out for.

While NNF has been busy with LPs, they managed to release a seven inch and cassingle by Bloomington, Indiana's Dylan Ettinger, who also runs the quality mid-west cassette label El Tule (played some back here). Dylan fits in nicely with all those hypnagogic synth wonders that have been making quite the buzz recently. Playful synth squiggles and squirms wriggle across an imaginary neon-lit skyway.

The Sex Worker LP is a tick-tocking dreamscape, with the flip side sounding like a dulled and flattened (in the best way, natch) of this classic Aphex Twin track from 'Selected Ambient Works Vol. 2'

The best of the new bunch is perhaps the newest full length from Inca Ore (pictured at the very top of this post), which is her second for NNF this year (she teamed up with Heavy Winged earlier this year) and her third release with them in total. I wasn't the biggest fan of her last full length, 'Birthday Of Bless You', but this newest LP is a major leap. Fans of the more submerged end of Grouper's more recent work should get a hold of this one asap. A delicate patchwork of across-the-void vocals, stark piano wrapped in static, all tie up together to form an intense, yet warm and very personal record. Absolute highest recommendation.

Last but not least in the NNF run down is the newest dark jammer by Robedoor, who had remained relatively quiet over the last year after releasing at least a dozen things each year since their inception in 2005. The group is back and have added a third member, fleshing out the doom-drone vibe with a drummer. Their seven inch on Ketchup Cavern from a few months back was indeed an indication of the groups new path and, after over 50 releases of stormy drone, is a welcome change. The storm is still brewing, but with shredded vocals, caustic guitar stranglings and reverbed drums, this new storm sweeps in quickly, annihilating everything in its path. New cassette due soon on Belgian label Pluim.

That's it for new music this week, folks. Next week we'll start counting down our favorite releases of the year. Until then...